Leaving Jackson for the Holidays? Get Your Plumbing Ready for Winter

A slow leak under the kitchen sink is easy to notice when you make coffee every morning. It’s harder to catch when the house sits empty for a week. If you’re heading out of Jackson or Ridgeland this winter, add these plumbing checks to your packing list while there’s still time to fix anything you find.

A few days before you leave: check for existing leaks

Empty the cabinets under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. Run each faucet, then dry the supply connections and the drain trap with a towel. Look again for fresh moisture. Check around the toilet base and the water heater for puddles, too. If water returns after you wipe it up, note whether it appears only when a fixture runs. That detail can help a plumber narrow down the source. Arrange plumbing repair before the trip if you find an active leak.

On departure day: leave heat where pipes need it

Don’t turn off the heat in an empty house. The American Red Cross recommends setting the thermostat no lower than 55°F when you’re away in cold weather. A warm hallway doesn’t always mean a warm sink cabinet: if the sink backs onto an exterior wall, open the cabinet doors so room air can circulate. Put cleaners somewhere children and pets can’t reach.

• Detach and drain garden hoses, including any connected to a side-yard faucet.
• Close the garage door if the garage contains water supply lines.
• Show the person checking your home where the main water shutoff is. Leave a number where they can reach you if the forecast changes.

When you return: listen before you unpack

With the taps off, listen for running water. Look below sinks and around appliances before starting a load of laundry. If a faucet produces only a trickle after a freeze, a pipe may still be frozen; a leak can become visible as the ice melts. Never try to thaw a line with an open flame. If you find a burst pipe, turn off the main water supply if it is safe to reach and keep clear of wet electrical equipment.

If someone watching your home reports water spreading across the floor, use Dent’s emergency plumbing service page for help. For a concern you’ve spotted before traveling, explore Dent’s plumbing services and describe the fixture, the room and what you noticed.